Washing, rinsing, and wringing machine



A GRAYDON.

WASHING, RLNSING, AND. WRINGING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18, 1920.

1,437,514, v Patented-Dec. 5,1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A GRAYDON. WASHING, RINSING, AND WRINGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE D DEC. I8. I920.

Patented De (15,1922.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. GRAYDDN, WASHING, RINSING, AND WRING IN'G MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 18 1920- I Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. GRAYDON.

WASHING, RINSING, AND WRINQING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 05mm, 1920 1A3K514, Patented Dc. 5,1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

v I 721/67l7"! I V 58 35 I i In developing the invention, I have had in Patented ehSlQZZ. '7 v A ALEXANDER GRAYDON, or

PATENT orrice.

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA.

WASHING, RINSI'NG; AND WRINGING- MACHINE.

' Application filed December 18, 1920. Serial No. 431,682.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, ALEXANDER GRAYDON,

a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at San Mateo, in the countyof San Mateo and State of California, have invented new and useful, Improvements in Washing, Rinsing, and Wringing Machinesfof which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to washing machines and has for its object to provide a machine in which the washing, rinsing, and partly extracting the water from clothes may be accomplished by successive operations in tions, their action may be suspended, and,

without removing the clothes from the chamher, and without subjecting them to the action of any independent wringing mechanism, the water which remains in them may be very completely taken out, after which the clothes may be removediin condition for hanging for complete drying, or, if. desired, for immediate ironing.

mind also the, arrangement of a washing compartment and a compartment for the 0-pw casing,

era'ting'instrumentalitieswhich will be distinct andindependent from each other, at

se y assembled within one main "at'there will be no opportunity {for communication between the chambers or i compartments, and danger of the clothes be:

' contaminated igfrom' the mechanical parts comingfsjoiledcor the washing fluidbecoming which operateathemaohine', or danger of the operatingeparts' beingjdrenched with water,

them in'o'rremongithe is eliminated?",Additionallyithe machine is so designed astof b convenient type for manipplaaon of clothes in putting i it is'mo'unted so asto be readily fed 'i fi'om place to'place;

.Ofiit design whichfgives a pleasing ap- 'pearance, all moving parts being completely 1 housed, although readily accessible for repair, ad ustment, and the like.

In order that the invention. may be clear to those skilled in the art, I-have shown in. the accompanying drawings one embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that this lllustrative disclosure and the description pertaining thereto, are simply illustrative of my invention and in no sense restrictivethereof, as there may be changes in design, and the substitution of mechanical equivalents for the specific constructions herein used to illustrate. the invention, without departing from the range of my invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view looking from the right hand of Fig. 1. v

Fig. 4is a view looking from the left hand of Fig. 1.

the

Figs. -5 and 6 are detail views in elevation and plan, respectively, of the supporting frame for the operating mechanisms.

Fig 7 is 'a view in vertical section of a" slightly different arrangement of the washing member and its associated parts.

Figure 8 is a detail plan of Figure 7 with the lid iemoved.

Referring to the drawings by numbers, like numbers indicating like partsin the several views, 10 indicates, generally, the machine casing which; in the form herein shown, comprises a lower and upper compartment, the lower compartment 11 containing the instrumentalities for operating the washing devices, while the upper com-- partment or tub 12 constitutes the washing, rinsing, and centrifugal extractor for clothes, and contains the washing, rinsing,-

and extractor devices. The lower compartment 11 will preferably be of rectangular shape as this lends itself better to the mounti'ngs for and the installation of the operating mechanisms, and it will be provided with suitable casters or their equivalents 13, so that/the machine may be readily moved from place to place.

' The upper compartment or tub 12 will be divided from the lower compartment or machine casing 11 by a suitable division wall 14 so that there willbeqio communicating passages between the two,$mpartments through which water from the compartment or tub 12 can escape into the lower machine casing 11, or oil or dirt from that machine casing 11 can creep up into the washing conipartment or tub 12.

Mounted in the lower compartment 11 is a supporting frame 15 so designed and positioned as to form the main support for the operating parts in the compartment 11, this frame or support 15 having suitable bearing members which serve to sustain the shafts, gears, and other parts of the driving mechamsm.

Mounted in any suitable position within the compartment 11, and upon any proper support, is a motor 16, which, in the present disclosure, will preferably be an electric motor, because of the convenience with which it may be installed and power may be applied to it. It will be understood, however, that while an electric motor is shown and preferred, I contemplate th substitution therefor, if conditions should require, of any suitable motor for driving the operating parts.

The motor 16 will be supplied from any suitable source of power (not shown) with a driving current, any usualcontrol switches or snap buttons (not shown) for turning the current on and off being provided.

The power shaft 17 of the motor will be connected by any suitable gearing 18 with a horizontally disposed gear shaft 19 having thereon a drive gear 20. The said shaft 19 will be driven constantly by the motor when the motor is running, and the gear 20 meshes with a gear 21 on a shaft 22 mounted in the frame 15 in suitable bearings formed therein. The shaft 22 has, at one end, a counter-balanced crank disk 24 which engages, at one end, a pitman 25, the other end of said pitman being pivotally connected to a pitman box 28. The box 28 engages a vertically disposed plunger rod or shaft 27, the construction being such that, While the shaft 27 will be reciprocated by the crank head and pitman, it is nevertheless free to turn in the pitman box 28. This construction may be worked out in various ways, but in the present form I have shown the shaft 27 v as provided with a flange or rib 29 which is clamped between the two members of the box 28, a ball bearing 30 being provided for the flange 29 so that when the shaft is rotated in the box 28, the friction will be reduced to a minimum.

From this construction, it will be observed that when the main shaft 19 and the crank shaft 22 are driven, the crank disk at will be operated, and, through the pitman and the pitman box connection here inbefore described, the vertical shaft 27 will be reciprocated.

The shaft 27 passes through a stuifing box provided in a bearing sleeve 31 mounted in v the bottom of the tub 12, these stufling boxes effectually preventing the escape of any of 7 the washing fluid from the tub into the lower compartment, and equally preventing any oil or dirt getting from the lower compartment into the tub. At its u per end the shaft 27 carries a forcing an suction member 33, which, as shown, is a saucershaped device, preferably formed of resilient material, such as rubber, with its concave surface facing downwardly toward the bottom of the tub- 12. The said member 33 is substantially of a diameter which will fill the tub 12, there being a relatively narrow, peripheral passage between the outer edge of the member 33 and the Wall of the tub 12. Between the edge of the forcing and suction member 31' and the wall of the tub will be interposed a foram'inous false tub or cage 34 having its bottom and side 7 walls perforated or provided with openings so as to give a sieve-like construction, and the washing member 33 will fit snugly, al-

though free to reciprocate, within this false tub or foraminous cylinder 34.

At its upper end the shaft 27 reciprocates in a bearing 35 formed as herein shown in Fig. 2 in the cover 36 for the tub 12, this cover being provided with any suitable fastening means to lock it securely to the tub when the machine is in operation, but being readily removable for acoem to the interior when the clothes are to be .put into the machine or removed therefrom. Preferably the washing member 33 and an associated cross-bar 37 will be locked to the shaft 27 so as to reciprocate therewith and to r0- tate therewith. The member 33 and its cross-bar 37 are locked to the shaft 27 for vertical movement by any suitable locking means, such as, for example, as that shown, in which the member 33 rests upon a nut or flange 38 on a sleeve 39 on the shaft 27, a plate being interposed to form a ibearing for the member 33, and above the member 33 the crossbar 37 provided with a boss 40 rests upon a plate 41 which engages the upper or convex surface of the member 33. The parts are locked against vertical displacement by any suitable means, such as a pin 42 paming through the central boss 40 of the cross-bar 37 and'through a suitable aperture in the shaft 27. With this arrangement it will be seen that the washing member 33 and the cross-bar 37 are held firmly to the shaft for reciprocation, but can be readily removed therefrom by taking out the pin 42 and slipping the washing member 33 and its cross-bar 37, together with the sleeve 39 from the shaft 27 so as to leave the tub 12 and the false tub 34 free for the admission or removal of the clothes.

The ends of the cross-bar 37 make suitable engagement with the false or foraminous tub 34, and while this connection may be made in various ways, one convenient form is here shown in which is provided swells or extruded sections 43 at diametrically opposite sides of the false tub 34 in which swells 43 the ends of the cross-bar 37 slide so that the bar may be inserted or withdrawn. When in the'position shown in Fig. 2, the cross-bar, shaft, and false tub will be locked together for rotation, although the cross-bar 37 and the washing member 33 will be free to reciprocate relative to the false tub 34.

The said false tub 34 is mounted in'a cage or fork 44, the lower member of which as'hereln shown, extends downwardly from the stufling box 32, so that the sleeve 31,

the supporting fork 44, and the false tub 34 are sustained by the ball bearing 45 and free to be rotated thereon. At its lower end the bearing sleeve 31 is provided with a stuffing box 47 to prevent the passage of water from the tub between the sleeve and the shaft to the compartment 11, and said sleeve 31 is provided at its lower end with means for imparting a movement of rotation to it and the parts carried thereby, namely, the fork and the foraminous cylinder or false tub.

While the means for rotating the sleeve 31 and its-supported parts may, of course, be of different kinds, I have shown herein one convenient formin which there is provided at the lower end of the sleeve 31 a driven sprocket 48 coupled by sprocket chain 49 with a second sprocket 50 on a shaft 51 suitably mounted in bearings in the frame 15, this shaft 51 extending downward to a point adjacent the shaft 19 and having at its lower end a bevelpinion 52 in line with the shaft 19, and in position to be engaged bya bevel pinion 53 splined to the shaft 19 and provided .with suitable clutch shifting mechanism 54,

having an operating handle 55 extending upwardly to the outside of the machine and by which the clutch mechanism may be operated, and the gear 53 thrown into mesh with the gear 52. Preferably the shifting mechanism will be so arranged as to disengage the pinion 20 on the cross shaft 19 from'the driving gear 21 when the pinion 53 is brought into engagement with the pinion 52. A convenient means of doing this is to'form the bevel gear 53 and the pinion 22 as one member and. couple the shifting mechanism to this member.

It will beseen that with this arrangement, the washing member 33 and the parts which reciprocate with it will be reciprocated when the driving gear 20 is in mesh with the gear"21, and that when the parts are in the otherposition, with the gears 52 and 53 in mesh, the operation ofthe reciprocating mechanism will be intermitted and the action of the rotating mechanism will be initiated.

When the bevel pinion 52 and 53 are in mesh, the shaft 51 and sprocket 50 will, through the chain 49 and the spocket 48 on the sleeve 31 rotate that sleeve, its supporting fork, and the foraminous cylinder or false tub carried thereby. The .reciprocating shaft 27, by reason of the engagement of the cross-bar 37 with the foraminous cylinder or false tub 34, rotate with the tub or cylinder, said shaft 27 being free to rotate in the pitman box 28 as described.

It will be understood that the compart-' supplies and a suitable waste, where such water supply and waste connections are available, although it will be understood that where they are not available, the tub may be filled by removing the cover and pouring in the water, and the drain cock may simply drain to the ground or a suitable receptacle.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a slightly dif-- ferent form of bearing for the vertical,

shaft 27, and one'which enables me to do 7 away with lengthening the'shaft to enga e the bearing in the cover as heretofore escribed.

In this form of bearing, there is provided a bearing member 58, the ends of which engage ways 59 on the walls of the tub, the said bearing member 58 being rotatably mounted on and held to the shaft 27 by a flange 60 on the sleeve which carries the washing member and the barwhich engages and rotates the foraminous cylinder. The bearing bar 58is so assembled with the other parts as that on removal of the looking pin, 61 such bearing bar, together with the washing member and the bar which engages the foraminous cylinder, may all be removed as one assembly from the shaft.

The bearing bar 58 reoiprocates freely in 1 the ways 59, (the false tub being provided with open ended slots 58 to permit the re ciprocatory movement,) but is held against rotation during the spinning of the false tub in wringing. Being closely assembled with the other parts and lying below the cover, it provides a very compact assembly and enables me to do away with that extended bearing formed in the cover, as shown in the other views, if desired.

With the parts constructed and assembled as heretofore described, the operation will be as follows:

The cover being removed from the compartment 12 and the washing member and cross-bar being slipped from the top of the shaft, the clothes, together with the washing fluid. will be placed in the machine within the foraminous cylinder or false tub. The washing member will then be replaced upon the reciprocating shaft with the cross-bar in engagement with the foraminous cylinder, so that, while it is free to reciprocate as the operating shaft is thrust up and down, it is fastened to that cylinder for rotation.

The main driving gear having been started, the pinion for the cross-shaft having the crank disk thereon will be brought into mesh with the main driving gear, whereupon the crank disk, pitman connection, and vertical shaft together with the forcing and suction member within the foraminous cylinder or false tub will be re ciprocated. The operation of the forcing and suction member is to force the washing fluid downwardly through the clothes, and by reason of the fact that this washing member is of substantially the same area as the tub 12, there being only a peripheral space between the edge of the washing member and the wall of the tub, the washing liquids will be forced downwardly and outwardly and will then pass up in a thin stream or current between the washing member and the wall of the tub. Upward movement of the washing member will cause a strong suction pull or vacuum and the washing fluid will be drawn through the clothes in the opposite direction as the plunger or washing member ascends. This reversing of the movement of the entire body of water very thoroughly washes the clothes, for at each reciprocation of the washing member, the entire body of washing fluid is forced and drawn through them.

By reason of the interposition of the false tub or foraminous cylinder between the wall of the washing compartment and the path of movement of the washing member, that washing member, which fits closely the foraminous cylinder, will force the water or washin fluid, in its downward movement, not onl y' downwardly through the clothes and out through the foraminous bottom, but will also force the washing fluid througn the clothes and in lateral currents through the perforated side walls of the cylinder; ()n upward movement of the washing member these currents will be reversed and the water will be drawn throughthe bottom and the clothes and the lateral currents will, by the suction of the washing member, be drawn in through the perforated side walls in a multiplicity of streams, and through the clothes.

The action in this respect is very dissimilar from the well known pounder action in which a small pounder plunger or a plurality of pounders act upon the clothes, such action being agitating and churning action rather than a displacement in opposite directions, of the entire body of water or washing fluid, which, inits displacement in one direction is forced through the clothes and in its displacement in the opposite direction is drawn or sucked through the clothes.

After the washing has continued for a sufficient length of time the washing fluid may then be drawn off and rinsing water, if desired, may then be introduced. The reciprocating mechanism will again be started and the clothes thoroughly rinsed. After the rinsing operation, the rinsing water will be drawn off from the tub through the drain cock, and, through the shifting mechanism heretofore described, the bevel pinion on the cross-shaft will be thrown into engagement with the train of gears, heretofore described, for effecting rotation of the foraminous cylinder or false tub. When this is done the mechanism for handling the washing instrumentalities will be disengaged so that they will remain idle and the reciprocationof the vertical shaft will cease. Immediately the rotating instrumentalities are thrown into gear, movement of rotation will be imnarted to the rotatable support, heretofore described, of the false tub or foraminous cylinder, and it, together with the shaft and washing member, will be driven.at high speed so that the moisture still remaining in the clothes and which has not drained off throughthe drain cock, will by centrifugal action be thrown out of the clothes and escaping through the foraminous wall of the cylinder or false tub will drain off through the drain cock.

In actual experiments which I have conducted, I have found that with the mechanism described I can throw out of the clothes contained in the foraminous cylinder such a proportion of the moisture contained therein after draining, that they will be brought to a condition where they after the clothes are once placed in the washing compartment, they need not be removed.

until all of the operations of washing, rinsing, and wringing are completed, and, furthermore, that I am able to dispense. with V the necessity of an independent and separate wringer such as is now commonly used in many machines ofthis type, thereby eliminatingall necessity for handling the clothes between the washing and the wringing operations.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the labor and expense involved in the'wash-' ing and wringing of clothes is very materially reduced; the assemblage ofthe instruof the machine, covers substantially the complete area withinwhich the clothes are confined, and so closely fits the foraminous cylinder or false ,tub that there is no danger of the clothes getting about or above this forcing and suction saucer and becoming entangled therewith or about the shaft above the saucer with consequent danger of drag upon the fabric and tearing of them. The action of this washing member or saucar is to force the entire body of washing fluid downwardly on its down stroke, and

by its suction on the up stroke to draw the fluid upwardly, this action being uniform over the entire area as distinguished from devices in which there are relatively movable parts which swing-as the plunger reciprocates; or in those constructions 'where there area plurality of pounder devices between and about which the clothes under treatment may wrap and cling. Under these conditions, there is always present the danger of injury, and this I have eliminated by the construction herein disclosed.

This protection of the fabrics against in: jury by reason of the arrangement of the washing member just set forth is increased by the fact that, as heretofore stated, this forcing and suction washing member is preferably formed of rubber, and there is some flexibility and yieldin at the extreme outer edge, so that this yiel ing edge would prevent any positive tearing drag on the clothes which might become engaged with it, or slightly pinched between the edge of this yielding member and the wall of the tub, and the yielding quality of the -washing member insures against any injury of the clothes when it makes .its down stroke and compresses the clothes against the bottom of the tub.

I claim 1. Ina washing machine the combination of a tub, a false/tub having a perforated wall rotatably mounted in said tub, a reciprocable plungerin said false tub, means .for positively reciprocating said plunger,

means for rotating said false tub, and means for preventing relative rotation of said washing member and said false tub.

2. In a washing member, the combination of a tub, a false tub having a perforated wall rotatably mounted in said tub, a foroing and suction plunger in said'fals'e tub,

means comprising a shaft traversing said 5 false tub for positively reciprocating said plunger, means for rotating said false tub,

and means for preventing relative rotation of said shaft and washing member and said false tub. g

' 3. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a. false tub having a perforated wall mounted in said tub, a forcing and suction washing member closely fitting said false tub, means for positively reciprocating said member in said tub, means to prevent relative rotation of said washing member and said false tub, and meansfor rotating said =false tub and washing member.

4. In a washing machine,.the combination of a tub, a false tub having a perforated wall mounted in said tub, a forcing and suction washing member closely fitting said false 'tub,- means for reciprocating said washing member, a cross bar to lock said washing member and said false tub against relative rotation, and means for rotating said false tub and washing member and bar. 5. Ina washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub having a perforated wall mounted in said tub a forcing and suction washing member closely fitting said false tub, a rotatably mounted shaft connected with said washing member, means for reciprocating said shaft, means for coupling saidwashing member and shaft and false tub to prevent relative rotation, and means for rotating said tub and wash- 'ing member and shaft.

6. In a washing machine, the combination of "a-tub', a false tub'having aperforated wall mounted in said tub, a forcing and suction washing member closely fitting said false tub, a rotatably mounted slraft, said washing member being detachably connected to said shaft to permit said washing member to be removed through the top of the tub, means for'reciprocating said shaft and washing member, means for coupling said washing member and shaft and false tub to prevent relative rotation, and means for rotating said 'tub' and washing member and s a t;

7. In a Washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub having a perforated wall mounted in said tub with its side wall spaced from the wall of the tub to provide a fluid passage, a rotatable bearing for said false tub, a resilient forcing and suction washing member closely fitting said false tub, a rotatable shaft traversing said bearing and connected with said washing member, means for coupling said false tub and washing member and shaft against relative rotation, means for reciprocating said shaft and washing member, and means for rotating said false tub, washing member and shaft 8. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub having a perforated wall mounted in said tub with its side wall spaced from the wall of the tub to provide a fluid passage, a rotatable bearing for said false tub, a resilient forcing and suction Washing member closely fitting said false tub, a rotatable shaft traversing said hearing and connected with said washing member, means for coupling said false tub and washing member and shaft against relative rotation, means for reciprocating said shaft and washing member, and. means for rotating said false tub, washing member and shaft.

9. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub having a perforated wall mounted therein, a forcing and suction washing member closely fitting said false tub, a central rotatable bearing at the bottom of said false tub, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft traversing said bearing, means for detachably connecting said washing member to said shaft, detachable means for coup lin said shaft and washing member and fa se tub against relative rotation, means for reciprocating said shaft and washing member in said false tub, and means for rotating said bearing.

10. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub having a perforated Wall mounted in said tub, a forcing and suction washing member closely fitting said false tub, a fluid-tight rotatable bearing in the bottom of said tub to which said false tub is secured, a rotatable and reciprocable shaft traversing said bearing, means for detachably connecting said washing member to said shaft, a detachable cross bar mounted on said shaft and engaging said false tub to prevent relative rotation thereof, means for reciprocating said shaft and washing member in said false tub, and means for rotating said bearing.

11. In a washing machine, the combination of upper and lower compartments separated by a horizontal division wall, a rotatawashing member closely ble bearing member mounted in said Wall, a reciprocable and rotatable shaft traversing said bearing, a false tub having a perforated wall in said upper compartment mounted on said-rotatable bearing, a forcing and suction washing member mounted on said shaft and fitting closely said false tub, means for coupling said shaft and Washing member and false tub for simultaneous rotation, means in said lower compartment for reciprocating said shaft and washing member, and means in said lower compartment for rotating said bearing.

12. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub having a perforated wall mounted insaid tub and having crossbar-engaging means on its wall, a cross bar engaging said Wall and reciprocable relative thereto, a washing member reciprocable with said cross bar and closely fitting said false tub, a reciprocable shaft, said washing member and bar being detachably connected to said shaft, means for reciprocating said shaft and its attached parts, andmeans for rotating said false tub and its connected cross bar and said washing member and shaft.

13. In a washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub havinga perforated Wall rotatably mounted in said tub, bar-receiving channels in the side walls of said false tub at the upper end thereof, a cross bar locked in said channels against rotation but reciprocable therein, a forcing and suction washing member closely fitting said false tub and rcciprocable with said cross bar, a rcciprocable and rotatable shaft traversing said tub, said washing member and cross bar being dctachablyconnected to said shaft, means for reciprocating said shaft and its attached parts, and means for rotating said false tub and cross bar and Washing member and shaft.

14. In a Washing machine, the combination of a tub, a false tub having a perforated wall rotatably mounted therein, bar-receiving channels in the wall of said false tub at the upper end thereof, a reciprocable shaft traversing said tub, a forcing and suction fitting said false tub and removably secured to said shaft. a cross bar removably secured to said shaft and with itsends engaging said wall channels and reciprocable therein, a detachable hearing member for the upper end of said shaft, means for reciprocating said shaft and washing member and cross bar in said false tub, and means for rotating said false tub and cross bar and washing member and shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set In hand.

y ALEXANDER GRAYDON. 

